Effectiveness of a skin patch, based on clove leaf essential oil, for low back pain

Abstract

Background & Objective: Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal problem that reduces quality of life and work productivity. This study aimed to design, develop, and evaluate the effectiveness of the CLEMARA Patch, a clove leaf essential oil-based transdermal patch, in reducing LBP intensity.

Methodology: A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group was used, involving 30 respondents divided equally into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received the CLEMARA Patch, which contains 4% pure eugenol, applied to the lumbar area for 6–8 hours, while the control group received standard therapy. Pain levels were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at baseline, during treatment, and post-test.

Results: The intervention group showed a significant reduction in pain from 7.27 ± 2.120 to 1.13 ± 2.416 (P < 0.05), while the control group experienced only a slight, nonsignificant decrease from 6.80 ± 1.821 to 5.27 ± 2.434 (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: The CLEMARA Patch demonstrated superior effectiveness over standard therapy in reducing LBP, highlighting its potential as a safe, natural, and innovative herbal therapy.

Abbreviations: NRS: Numeric Rating Scale, NSAIDs: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, PVP: PEG: Polyethylene Glycol, Polyvinylpyrrolidone, HPMC: Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, PG: Propylene Glycol, VCO: Virgin Coconut Oil, MgCl: Magnesium Chloride, SHM: Standardized Herbal Medicine, GRAS: Generally Recognized As Safe

Keywords: CLEMARA Patch; Clove Leaf Essential Oil; Eugenol; Transdermal Patch; Low Back Pain; Non-pharmacological Therapy

Citation: Lameky VY, Akollo IR, Djarami J, Tiwery RT, Ngarbingan RD. Effectiveness of a skin patch, based on clove leaf essential oil, for low back pain. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2025;29(9):1263-70. DOI: 10.35975/apic.v29i9.3063  

Received: August 17, 2025; Revised: September 05, 2025; Accepted: September 06, 2025